COVID-19-related attitude and risk perception among pregnant women attending antenatal care, and the associated factors, at public health facilities of East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia, 2020: a multi-center cross-sectional study

AIM: This study aimed to assess COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019)-related attitude and risk perception among pregnant women attending antenatal care, and the associated factors, at public health facilities of the East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted, from December 1–30, 2020. A total of 847 pregnant women were included in the study using a simple random sampling technique. To collect the data, we used an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with pregnancy-related anxiety. A p-value of < 0.05 with a 95% confidence level was used to declare statistical significance. RESULTS: The magnitude of COVID-19-related positive attitude and high-level risk perception among pregnant women was 51.12% and 37.2% respectively. Having adequate knowledge [AOR: 2.09, 95% CI = (1.49–2.95)], ≥ 3 ANC visits [AOR: 1.43, 95% CI = 1.0–1.98], and a low level of risk perception [AOR: 6.27, 95% CI = (4.42–8.89)] were factors associated with a positive attitude of pregnant women with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. Being urban residents [AOR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.6–3.10], having wanted pregnancy [AOR: 3.35, 95% CI: 1.18–9.49], having a negative attitude [AOR: 6.21, 95% CI: 4.43–8.70], and a complicated pregnancy [AOR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.02–-2.75] were factors significantly associated with risk perception of pregnant women with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its high fatality, COVID-19 pandemic-related attitude and risk perception among pregnant women were low. As a result, health caregivers and other concerned bodies should consider interventions to improve pregnant women's risk perception and attitude during antenatal care and through various community information platforms. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10389-022-01797-x.